I was a skinny twelve-year-old when I walked into my first Karate Dojo on April 5th, 1990, just a few weeks before I turned thirteen.
The previous Christmas, I received three months of Karate lessons as a gift. However, I didn’t start right away because I was too busy being a computer nerd at the time. Now this was before the internet, and I spent my time online using a dial up modem and building bulletin board systems, which eventually led to the modern webpages we have today. Not only was I into computers, but I was also passionate about fishing. Whenever I could, I’d cast a line into the water.
My life and interests were far removed from Karate back then. But everything changed for me from the day I stepped into the dojo. My whole perception of life changed. Karate became my passion, my religion. My lifelong journey had begun.
I ended up at this dojo because of Italian connection between my mom and my first karate teacher, Massimo Barrella, Sensei. They both came from Italy, and they shared a similar last name. He moved here as a teenager, born in Italy. My mom was the youngest of eight kids, and her parents came to the US through Ellis Island. I was lucky to have found my first teacher through this connection.
Fast-forwarding 30-plus years, I’ve had the good fortune to learn from many great teachers on my Karate journey. It started with Barrella Sensei in USA Goju, which ultimately led me to Okinawan Goju-ryu. Since 2018, I’ve continued my Goju-ryu studies under Katsuya Izumikawa Sensei of the Senbukai ([senbukaihonbu.com](http://senbukaihonbu.com)) in Kawasaki, Japan.
In addition to training in Okinawan Goju-ryu on mainland Japan, I have made several trips to Beppu, Japan, where I became the first American to study to’uon-ryu, a karate style developed by Juhatsu Kyoda, who was a senior to Chojun Miyagi Sensei in Kanryo Higaonna Sensei’s dojo.
While all self-defense situations begin standing, it’s equally important to know how to handle yourself on the ground. I’m a strong believer in being a well-rounded fighter, which is why I continue to practice BJJ and my favorite, Daito-ryu Aikijutsu.
It is my goal to continue evolving, learning, and sharing my practice.